World Coconut Day Celebrated In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar:World Coconut Day was celebrated at KIIT here on Monday. The 21st edition of the event was celebrated on the theme 'coconut for family wellness' and was chaired by Union Minister for Agriculture, Narendra Singh Tomar.

Around 500 farmers from all coconut growing states across the country and coconut based entrepreneurs participated in the programme. A technical session was held for creating awareness on the goodness of coconut and also for equipping the farmers with the latest scientific practices in coconut management processing, value addition and export.

An exhibition, showcasing various innovative value-added products of coconut and latest technology in the sector was also held. All coconut growing countries in Asia and Pacific region observe September 2 as World Coconut Day every year.

India is leading in coconut production and productivity and occupies the third position in the area in coconut production. Coconut is grown in 20.97 lakh hectares and the annual coconut production and productivity is 2379.823 crore nuts and 11350 nuts per hectare.

Odisha occupies the fifth position among other coconut growing states with regard to the area under coconut cultivation. The crop is grown in an area of 50910 hectare and about 34.17 crore coconuts are produced annually with a productivity of 6712 nuts per hectare.

On the sidelines of the event, Odisha's Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo said that farmers are being duly compensated for the coconut trees which have been damaged due to cyclone Fani.

"The Chief Minister has announced Rs 500 per damaged tree. Most of this amount has been disbursed and the rest is in process. Secondly, we have requested the Coconut Development Board of the Central Government to provide saplings in large numbers," Sahu said.

Principal Secretary Saurabh Garg will be going to attend a meeting at Delhi over the new Agriculture policy on September 3. "We will take up the matter of insurance for coconut farmers," Sahu added.

Puri, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur and Gajapati are few districts where coconut is cultivated in the State. Bulk of the coconut products produced in the state is utilised for religious purposes and domestic consumption.

Apart from this, Coconut Development Board is extending additional support of Rs 29.659 crore as financial assistance to the coconut growers affected by cyclone Fani through the Replanting and Rejuvenation programme.